US3886880A

US3886880A - Tufting machine needle drive disengaging mechanism and method of producing tufted material using same

Info

Publication number: US3886880A
Application number: US357109A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr John A Watson
Original assignee: Armstrong Cork Co
Current assignee: Shaw Industries Group Inc
Priority date: 1973-05-04
Filing date: 1973-05-04
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

In a tufting machine for producing tufted material by tufting yarn through a backing, a needle drive disengaging mechanism for stopping the tufting needle reciprocation by disengaging the main drive shaft from the needle drive rocker shaft which drives the needle. In producing tufted loop pile material having a portion of the backing thereof untufted, the needle drive disengaging mechanism is used to stop the needle reciprocation while the backing is advanced through the machine to produce the untufted area. In producing tufted cut pile material having a portion of the backing thereof untufted, the needle drive disengaging mechanism is used to stop the needle reciprocation while the machine is jogged several times to cut off all remaining loops of yarn on the looper and while the backing is advanced through the machine to produce the untufted portion of backing. The needle drive disengaging mechanism can also be used in combination with an auxiliary motor for advancing the backing through the machine in which case the needle drive disengaging mechanism is only used to stop the needle reciprocation while jogging the machine to cut all the remaining loops of yarn off the looper since after this operation the tufting machine is stopped before the auxiliary motor drives the backing feed rolls to advance the backing through the machine.

Description

United States Patent i 1 Watson, Sr. i 1 June 3, 1975 l l TUFTING MACHINE NEEDLE DRIVE [57] ABSTRACT DISENGAGING MECHANISM in a tufting machine for producing tufted material by METHOD OF PRODUCWG TUI'TH) tufting yarn through a backing, a needle drive disen- MATERIAL USING SAME gaging mechanism for stopping the tufting needle re- [75] Inventor: John A. Watson, Sr.. Lafavette. Ga. cipmcmio disengaging thc main drive Shaft from the needle drive rocker shaft which drives the needle. Asslgnee: Armslmng Cork Company In producing tufted loop pile material having a portion Luncasterof the backing thereof untufted. the needle drive dis- 2 Filed; May 4 1973 engaging mechanism is used to stop the needle reciprocation while the backing is advanced through the [21] NO': 357J09 machine to produce the untufted area. in producing tufted cut pile material having a portion of the back- 52 5. C} N 11212 2 79 113 22 ing thereof untufted, the needle drive disengaging 51 Int. Cl D05c /10 mechanism is used to Stop the needle reciprocation 5 Field f Search 13 79 R 79 A 22 r 220 while the machine is jogged several times to cut off all 112 2 410; 192 7 p remaining loops of yarn on the looper and while the backing is advanced through the machine to produce 5 References Cited the untufted portion of backing. The needle drive dis- UNITED STATES PATENTS engaging mechanism can also be used in combination 97 g q with an auxiliary motor for advancing the backing l,425.7 8

]9"/67 P through the machine in which case the needle drive ,3l4 339 3/l943 Bradwellm ll2/22l 28757 l4 3/1959 Nix H 2/79 A disengaging mechanism is only used to stop the needle 2.977905 4/1961 Cobble. Jr. et all 112/79 R reciprocation while jogging the machine to cut all the 3.460.499 8/l969 Gaines n2 22r remaining loops of y the looper Since after this 3.548.766 12/1970 Colbert..... ll2/79 R operation the tufting machine is stopped before the 3,626,878 12/1971 Cobble H2179 R auxiliary motor drives the backing feed rolls to advance the backing through the machine. Primary E.\'aminerWerner H. Schroeder 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I06 I0 I00 56 32 2 7 I 26 a I58 1 1 I60 I52 c

rl66 l I54

1 ,4 I64 62 4'9". 10

TUFTING MACHINE NEEDLE DRIVE DISENGAGING MECHANISM AND METHOD OF PRODUCING TUFTED MATERIAL USING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a mechanism for stopping the reciprocation of the tufting needle of a tufting machine while not disengaging or affecting the operation of any other parts of the machine. More particularly, this invention is concerned with stopping the reciprocation of the tufting needle of a tufting machine when producing either tufted loop pile or cut pile material so that the backing can be advanced under the stopped needle to produce tufted material having a portion of the backing thereof untufted.

2. Description of the Prior Art The tufting machine art and the methods of producing tufted material are well established. As can be seen by looking at any of the tufting machines presently produced by Southern Machine Company, a Division of Tuftco Corp, or the Cobble Division of The Singer Company, the tufting machines are quite refined. However, despite this extensive development of the prior tufting art, a problem existed for which the inventor was unable to find a solution in the prior art. This problem remained unsolved until the inventor made the present invention.

The problem solved by the herein invention was how to stop the reciprocation of the tufting needle of a cut pile tufting machine so that all loops of yarn remaining on the looper could be cut therefrom by the knife and the backing could be advanced through the tufting machine leaving a predetermined portion of the backing untufted. The herein invention of the needle drive disengaging mechanism overcame this problem. The needle drive disengaging mechanism stops the reciprocation of the tufting needle by disengaging the main drive shaft from the needle drive rocker shaft which drives the tufting needle. Since the needle drive disengaging mechanism acts only to stop the reciprocation of the tufting needle, all other parts of the machine remain operational. This allows the knife of a cut pile machine to cut off all remaining loops of yarn from the looper which therefore allows the backing to be advanced through the tufting machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a mechanism for stopping the reciprocation of the tufting needle of a tufting machine whether it be for producing tufted loop pile or cut pile material. The invention also relates to the method of producing tufted loop pile or cut pile material having a portion of the backing thereof untufted by use of the invention, the needle drive disengaging mechanism.

The improvement of this invention is used with the wellknown and often used conventional tufting machine, e.g., the dial-type carpet tufting machine manufactured by Southern Machine Company, a Division of Tuftco Corp. In such a conventional carpet tufting machine, an electric motor drives a main drive shaft which in turn drives the tufting needle, the looper, the knife (in a cut pile machine only), a backing feed roll. and a yarn feed device.

The conventional main drive shaft drives the conventional needle drive rocker shaft through a conventional needle drive cam and connecting rod and the needle drive disengaging mechanism. One end of the needle drive disengaging mechanism is connected to the needle drive connecting rod and the other end of said mechanism has a three part engaging and disengaging portion. The first part is rotatably mounted on the needle drive rocker shaft and has two pin receiving holes therein. The second part is fastened to said shaft in juxtaposition to the first part and has two pin receiving holes therein aligned with the two pin receiving holes of the first part. The third part is slideably mounted on the needle drive rocker shaft in juxtaposition to the second part and has two pins aligned with the pin receiving holes of the first and second parts. The third part is spring biased against the second part so that the two pins pass through the pin receiving holes of the second part and at least part way into the pin receiving holes of the first part so that the first and second parts are normally connected together. By having the first and second parts connected, the drive from the main drive shaft is transmitted through the needle drive disengaging mechanism to the needle drive rocker shaft and onto the tufting needle causing reciprocation thereof.

A lever device with any conventional linkage is rotated against the cam follower on the third part to move the third part away from the second part and restract the two pins of the third part from the two pin receiving holes of the first part thereby disengaging the first part from the second part. The first part is still drivingly connected to the main drive shaft. However, since the first part is not now connected through the second part to the needle drive rocker shaft. no drive is transmitted through to the needle drive rocker shaft or on to the tufting needle. Therefore, reciprocation of the tufting needle is stopped.

By stopping the reciprocation of the needle on a loop pile tufting machine and operating all other parts of the machine, the backing can be advanced through the machine without being tufted therethrough which will produce a portion of the loop pile material having no tufts therein. By stopping reciprocation of the tufting needle in a cut pile machine, and then jogging the machine to cut the yarn loops off the looper and then running the machine with all other parts in operation, a cut pile material having an untufted portion can be produced. An alternative for advancing the backing through a cut pile machine is to have an auxiliary motor connected to the backing feed roll so that only this auxiliary motor need be operated to advance the backing through the tufting machine after the remaining loops of yarn have been cut off the looper. This too produces a cut pile material having a portion thereof untufted.

A primary object of this invention is to present a mechanism for stopping the reciprocation of a tufting needle in a cut pile tufting machine so that at least the looper and knife of the machine can be operated to cut any remaining loops of yarn off the looper while the needle is stopped.

A further object of this invention is to present a mechanism which will stop the reciprocation of the tufting needle in both a loop pile and cut pile tufting machine so that the backing can be advanced through the machine and have a portion thereof untufted. In a cut pile machine. the backing would only be advanced through the machine after the remaining loops on the looper have been cut off thereof.

Another object of this invention is to present a mechanism for stopping the reciprocation of the tufting needle to be used in combination with an auxiliary motor to drive the backing roll on a cut pile machine so that a tufted cut pile material having a portion of the backing thereof untufted can be produced.

Another object of this invention is to present a mechanism and method for producing tufted loop pile or cut pile material having an untufted portion of backing at the beginning and end of each roll of material produced so that when rolls of the material are stitched together to go through a later latex backing operation and cut apart after having gone through the latex operation, the scrap loss on each end of each roll of tufted material is reduced which results in an economic savings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the back of a conventional carpet tufting machine showing the relationship of the conventional drive means to the modified drive means of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the needle drive disengaging mechanism located in the right leg of the tufting machine of FIG. 1, said mechanism being in its engaged position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the needle drive disengaging mechanism of FIG. 2, said mechanism being in its disengaged position.

FIG. 4 is a right end elevational sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view partially in section of a tufting needle arrangement for a conventional cut pile carpet tufting machine as viewed from the left side of a tufting machine such as that set forth in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view showing one particular relationship of the yarn, needle, looper, and knife during the production of cut pile carpet on a conventional cut pile carpet tufting machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The tufting machine 10 is representative of a conventional tufting machine such as the dial-type tufting machine presently manufactured by Southern Machine Company, a Division of Tuftco Corp. The tufting machine 10 has a left leg 12 and right leg 14. Energy passes from an energy source 16 to an electric motor I8 when a switch 20 is actuated. The motor 18 is mounted on any conventional mounting bracket such as 22 which in turn is mounted on the left side 24 of left leg 12 by any conventional mounting means. The motor 18 drives the main drive shaft 26 through conventional three sheath pulleys 28 and 30 and three conventional belts 32. A motor the same size as motor 18 is mounted in right leg 14 but not shown in FIG. 1. The main drive shaft 26 which extends through the tufting machine 10 from left side 24 through right side 34 is also driven by the motor in the right leg 14 through conventional three

sheath pulleys

36 and 38 and three conventional belts 40.

The main drive shaft 26 drives the tufting needle 42. Said needle 42 is drivingly connected to main drive shaft 26 through conventional needle drive cam 44 which is fastened to the main drive shaft in any conventional way such as a key and key way. The needle drive cam is connected to the needle drive connecting rod 46 which in turn is connected in the slot arrangement 48 of the rocker arm portion 49 of the needle drive lever 50 of the needle drive disengaging mechanism 52. The end 53 of the needle drive connecting rod 46 is adjustable to various positions in said slot 48. By changing the position of the end 53 of the needle drive connecting rod 46 in the slot 48 of the rocker arm portion 49 of the needle drive lever 50 the stroke of the tufting needle is changed. The means adjustably fastening the end 53 of needle drive connecting rod 46 into the slot 48 comprises conventional fastening means of stud 54, nut 56 screwing onto said stud and holding washer 58 having pins 60 which fit into the adjustment pin holes 62 of the rocker arm portion 49. The drive from the main drive shaft is transmitted through needle drive lever 50 mounted on needle drive rocker shaft 64 if the needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 is in its normally engaged position as shown in FIG. 2. If the needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 is in its disengaged position as shown in FIG. 3, the drive from the main drive shaft 26 is not transmitted through to the tufting needle 42.

The needle drive rocker shaft 64 is oscillatorially mounted in a conventional pillow block 66 which is has tened to the tufting machine housing 67. The needle drive rocker shaft is connected to the needle drive rocker arm 68 with a conventional clamping means as shown at 70 in conjunction with a conventional key and key way. The drive from the main drive shaft continues through the needle drive rocker arm to the needle drive push rod connecting link 72 and on to the needle drive push rod 74. Connecting link 72 is fastened to said rocker arm 68 with a conventional wrist pin 76.

The push rod 74 is screwed into end 77 of clevis 78 and locked into this position with a jam nut 80. The clevis 78 is fastened to the needle drive connecting link 72 with another conventional wrist pin 82. The push rod 74 passes through the push rod housing 84 which is fastened to the tufting machine housing 86. The presser foot 88 is fastened onto the push rod housing 84 in any conventional manner at 90. The needle carrier clamp 92 is fastened onto the bottom of the push rod 74 in any conventional manner. The yarn jerker 94 is fastened onto the needle carrier clamp 92 in any conventional manner. The needle bar 96 is fastened to the underside of needle carrier clamp 92 and receives a plurality of tufting needles like needle 42. A yarn guide 98 is also mounted on the side of the needle carrier clamp 92.

As the yarn is fed from any conventional yarn feed device 100 which is driven by the yarn feed drive shaft 102 which in turn is driven by the main drive shaft 26 through

conventional pulleys

104 and 106 and conventional belt 108, it passes through the yarn feed jerker 94 which jerks yarn with each reciprocation of the tufting needle. The yarn then passes through yarn guide 98 and through the eye 109 of the tufting needle 42. With yarn being fed from the yarn feed device 100 through the yarn jerker 94, the yarn feed guide 98, the needle eye 109, the yarn is tufted through the backing to form a loop on the underside of the backing with each reciprocation of the tufting needle provided that the needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 is in its engaged position as shown in FIG. 2.

The needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 has the slot arrangement 48 in he rocker arm portion 49 of the needle drive lever 50. The end 53 of the needle drive connecting rod 46 is connected in the slot arrangement 48 of the rocker arm portion 49. The end of the rocker arm portion 49 opposite the end having said slot 48 has a first part 110 rotatably mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft 64. Also mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft as parts of the needle drive lever 50 are a second part 112 fastened to said needle drive rocker in juxtaposition to the first part 110 and a third part 114 slideably mounted on the needle drive rocker shaft 64 in juxtaposition to the second part 112. The first part 110, the second part 112, and the third part 114 are all at one end of the needle drive lever 50; the end of rocker arm portion 49 having the slot arrangement 48 therein is the other end of the needle drive lever 50. The second part 1 12 is fastened to said shaft 64 via two clamps 116 which are inserted into holes 118 which partially intersect the hole in the second part through which the needle drive rocker shaft 64 passes. Screws 120 are used to tighten the clamps 1 16 which fasten the second part 112 of the needle drive lever 50 to the needle drive rocker shaft 64.

The first part 1 of the needle drive lever 50 has two pin receiving holes 122 therein. The second part 122 has two pin receiving holes 124 therein. The third part 114 has two engaging pins 126 thereon. The pin receiving holes 122 of the first part 110 are aligned with the pin receiving holes 124 of the second part 112 which pin receiving holes are aligned with the engaging pins 126 of the third part 114. The pin receiving holes 122 have bronze bushings 128 lining said holes and pin receiving holes 124 have bronze bushings I30 lining said holes.

The third part 114 is normally spring biased by springs 132 and 134 which are connected to

pins

136 and 138 respectively against the second part 112. In this position as is shown in FIG. 2, the engaging pins 126 pass through the pin receiving holes 124 of the second part and at least part way into the pin receiving holes 122 of the first part. In this engaged position the first part 110 of the needle drive lever 50 is connected to the second part 112 which is fastened to the needle drive rocker shaft 64. This therefore allows the drive from the main drive shaft 26 to pass through the needle drive lever 50 to the needle drive rocker shaft 64 and onto the tufting needle 42.

A camming type lever 140 is fastened to rotatably movable shaft 142 and is positioned against cam follower 144 positioned on the top of the slideable third part of the needle drive lever. The shaft 142 may be mounted in any conventional manner on the tufting machine housing and may be connected through any conventional linkage which can rotate the shaft first in a clockwise direction to slide the third part 114 to the right in FIG. 2 along the needle drive rocker shaft 64 and then in a counterclockwise direction to allow the third part 114 to return to its original position as shown in FIG. 2. When the lever 140 is rotated to slide the third part 114 away from the second part, the engaging pins 126 of the third part are retracted from the pin receiving holes of the first part. The lever is only rotated through such an are as is necessary to move the third part 114 to the right a sufficient distance to retract the engaging pins 126 from the pin receiving holes 122 of the first part. When said pins are retracted from the first part as is shown in FIG. 3, the needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 is in its disengaged position. In this disengaged position, the first part is no longer con nected to the second part and therefore the drive from the main drive shaft cannot be transmitted through the needle drive lever to the needle drive rocker shaft 64 and on to the tufting needle 42. Therefore, when the third part 114 of the needle drive lever 50 is positioned as shown in FIG. 3, the main drive shaft 26 is disengaged from the needle drive rocker shaft 64 which stops the reciprocation of the tufting needle 42.

The needle drive rocker shaft 64 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 is rotatably mounted in a conventional flange bearing 65 mounted in any conventional manner on the left side 15 of the right leg 14 of tufting machine 10. The main drive shaft 26 shown in FIG. 4 is rotatably mounted in a conventional flange bearing 25 mounted in any conventional manner on the left side 15 of right leg 14. The looper 146 is driven by the main drive shaft 26 through conventional cams and shafts which therefore are not shown on the drawings. The knife 148 likewise is driven by the main drive shaft 26 through conventional cams and shafts and, therefore, these are not shown in the drawings. As in conventional tufting machines, machine 10 has needle looper, and knife drive means in both

legs

12 and 14. Therefore, the needle drive disengaging mechanism of this invention is also included in both

legs

12 and 14 of machine 10.

The backing feed rolls 150 are driven by backing feed drive shafts 152 which in turn are driven by the main drive shaft through

conventional pulleys

154 and 156, conventional belt 158 and conventional clutch means 160 which is mounted on the left side 24 of tufting machine 10. The clutch 160 can be any conventional clutch means such as an idler pulley mounted to tighten and loosen belt 158 between

pulleys

154 and 156 to respectively engage the main drive shaft to and disengage the main drive shaft from the backing feed drive shafts 152.

To produce tufted loop pile carpet having a portion of the backing at the beginning and end of each roll untufted, the tufting machine which is tufting carpet is stopped by actuating switch 20 which disconnects energy source 16 from motor 18. The needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 is then moved to its disengaged position as shown in FIG. 3 to stop the reciprocation of the tufting needle. The tufting machine is then restarted by actuating switch 20 to energize motor 18 which drives the main drive shaft 26. This in turn drives the backing feed rolls 150 along with all other parts of the machine except the tufting needle to advance the backing through the machine a predetermined distance to produce a portion of backing which is untufted. After the predetermined distance of backing has advanced through the machine, switch 20 is again actuated to stop the machine. The needle drive disengaging mechanism is then returned to its engaged position as shown in FIG. 2 so that the machine is again ready to tuft loop pile carpet. The combination of the conventional idler pulley 162, the conventional belt 164 and the conventional pulleys 166 is merely a conventional way of adjusting the tension on the backing as it travels through the tufting machine.

To produce a cut pile carpet having an untufted por tion at the beginning and end of each roll, the tufting machine 10 is stopped by actuating switch 20. The needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 is moved to its disengaged position as shown in FIG. 3. The switch 20 is bumped several times to jog the machine to cut off of the looper all remaining loops of yarn 168 so that they become cut pile yarn as shown at 170. Each time the needle 42 tufts yarn 172 through the backing 174, one

additional loop like I68 is added to the looper I46 and one loop as shown at 176 is cut off the looper by the knife 148. The backing 174 passes over the needle plate 178 as it advances through the machine. The tufting needle as it carries yarn 172 through the backing I74 to form a loop under said backing passes through the end 180 of the needle plate 178. As the needle is being withdrawn back through the backing 174, the presser foot 88 holds the backing from riding up on the needle. The yarn 172 which is fed by the yarn feed device 100 to the tufting needle 42 as the machine is being jogged, is not too much yarn so that it becomes entangled or fouled up in any manner. After the remaining loops 168 have been cut off of looper 146 the switch is again actuated to start the motor 18 and advance the backing 174 through the machine a predetermined distance. As the backing is advancing through the machine, all other parts of the machine except the tufting needles are operating. After the predetermined distance of backing has advanced through the machine, switch 20 is again actuated to stop the machine after which the needle drive disengaging mechanism is returned to its engaged position as shown in FIG. 2 so that the machine is again ready to tuft cut pile carpet. This produces a cut pile carpet having a portion of backing thereof untufted so that the backing at the beginning and end of a roll of said carpet will be untufted.

For producing cut pile carpet having a portion at the beginning and end of each roll untufted, there is an alternative method of advancing the backing through the tufting machine. This alternative method is used in combination with the needle drive disengaging mechanism as it was used in the first method of producing cut pile carpet having a portion of the backing thereof untufted. After the switch 20 is actuated to stop motor 18, and the needle drive disengaging mechanism 52 has been moved to its disengaged position as shown in FIG. 3, and the machine has been jogged by bumping switch 20 to cut the remaining loops off the looper, the clutch mechanism I60 is actuated to disengage the main drive shaft 26 from the backing feed drive shaft 152. Switch I82, e.g., any conventional timer switch, is then actuated to supply energy from source 16 to an auxiliary motor 184 and energize said motor 184. The auxiliary motor 184 is mounted on any conventional mounting bracket such as 185 which in turn is mounted on the left side 24 of left leg I2 by any conventional mounting means. The auxiliary motor 184 is connected to the backing feed drive shaft through conventional pulleys I86 and 188 and conventional belt 190 at all times. When the backing feed drive shaft 152 is being driven by the main drive shaft 26 through the clutch mechanism 160, the drive shaft 192 of the auxiliary motor is being rotated by the backing feed drive shaft 152 through pulleys 186 and l88 and belt 190.

The backing feed rolls being driven by the auxiliary motor advance the backing through the tufting machine for a predetermined distance to produce cut pile carpet having a portion of the backing at the beginning and end of each roll of carpet untufted. After the backing has been advanced through the tufting machine the said predetermined distance. the switch 182 is actuated to stop the auxiliary motor 184. After said motor 184 is stopped, the clutch mechanism 160 is actuated to engage the main drive shaft 26 to the backing feed drive shaft 152. The needle drive disengaging mechanism is then returned to its engaged position as shown in FIG.

2. And. finally, switch 20 is actuated whenever it is desired to energize motor 18 and start the tufting of addi tional cut pile carpet.

It should be noted that when the reciprocation of the tufting needles is stopped. said needles should be in their uppermost position of their stroke as shown by needle 42 in FIG. 6. This can be accomplished by stopping the tufting machine and then turning hand wheel 27 on main drive shaft 26 until the tufting needles are in their uppermost position of their stroke. There is then no danger of the needles becoming caught in the backing as the backing is advanced through the tufting machine while the needles are not reciprocating.

Having described my invention, it will become obvious to one skilled in the art that other forms, shapes and functional means could be used for the needle drive disengaging mechanism and that clutches or other arrangements could be added to the auxiliary drive system without departing from the spirit of the invention although the preferred embodiment has proven to function satisfactorily. The true scope of the invention is encompassed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tufting machine for producing cut pile material by tufting yarn through a backing to form loops and cutting said loops, said tufting machine having an electric motor, a main drive shaft connected to said motor, a needle drive rocker shaft driven by said main drive shaft through a needle drive cam and connecting rod and a needle drive disengaging means, said needle drive rocker shaft in turn driving a tufting needle, a looper drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said looper drive shaft moving a looper, a knife drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said knife drive shaft moving a knife, backing feed drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said backing feed drive shaft moving a backing feed roll, and the yarn feed drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said yarn feed drive shaft moving said yarn feed roll, the improvement comprises an auxiliary power means, said needle drive disengaging means for disengaging said needle drive rocker shaft from said main drive shaft and thereby stopping the movement of said tufting needle for use in combination with said auxiliary power means connected to said backing feed drive shaft to drive said backing feed roll and advance the backing through the tufting machine when said backing feed drive shaft is not driven by said main drive shaft, said needle drive disengaging means having two operative positions. one being the position wherein said needle drive disengaging means couples said main drive shaft to said needle drive rocker shaft which causes the needle to reciprocate and tuft yarn through said backing as the machine is operating and the other being the position wherein said needle drive disengaging means disengages said main drive shaft from said needle drive rocker shaft thereby stopping the needle reciprocation which stops the tufting of yarn through said backing even though all other parts of the machine are operating, a means for moving said needle drive disengaging means into either of said two operative positions at any one instance in time. and a clutch means through which the backing feed drive shaft is driven by the main drive shaft for disengaging the main drive shaft from the backing feed drive shaft and for reengaging the main drive shaft to the backing feed drive shaft. said auxiliary power means is actuated only after said clutch means is actuated to disengage said main drive shaft from said backing feed drive shaft, said auxiliary power means advances said backing without having any other parts of said machine operating and for a time sufficient to advance the untufted backing through said tufting machine a predetermined distance, by using said needle drive disengaging means in conjunction with said auxiliary power means a cut pile material may be produced having a portion thereof untufted.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said needle drive disengaging means comprises a needle drive lever having one end connected to said needle drive connecting rod and the other end mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft.

3. The improvement of claim 2 wherein the other end of said needle drive lever comprises a first part rotatably mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft, a second part fixedly mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft close to said first part, and a third part mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft close to said second part.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the second part of said needle drive lever is mounted in juxtaposition to said first part and the third part of said needle drive lever is slideably mounted on said needle drive rocker shaft in juxtaposition to said second part.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the third part of said needle drive lever has engaging means thereon, the first part of said needle drive lever has receiving means therein, the second part of said needle drive lever has receiving means therein, and said receiving means of both said first and second parts are aligned with each other and with said engaging means of said third part so that said engaging means of said third part can pass through the receiving means of said second part and be inserted into the receiving means of said first part wherein said first and second parts are connected together which is one operative position of said needle drive disengaging means or be retracted from the receiving means of said first part wherein said first and second parts are disengaged from one another which is the other operative position of said needle drive disengaging means.

6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the auxiliary power means comprises an electric motor.

7. A method of producing tufted cut pile material by tufting yarn through a backing to form loops and cutting said loops on a tufting machine having a tufting needle driven by a needle drive rocker shaft which is driven by a main drive shaft and a backing feed drive shaft driven by the main drive shaft wherein a predetermined portion of said cut pile material has backing thereof untufted, comprising the steps of stopping the operation of said machine with the needle above said backing whenever the leading edge of a portion of said backing not to be tufted passes under the tufting needie, disengaging the needle drive rocker shaft from the main drive shaft so that said needle cannot reciprocate, jogging said machine a sufficient number of times to cut all loops of yarn remaining on the looper off of said looper, disengaging backing feed drive shaft from said main drive shaft, driving said backing feed drive shaft with an auxiliary motor to advance said backing through said machine for a predetermined distance without having any other parts of said machine operating, stopping said auxiliary motor after said backing has been advanced through said machine said predetermined distance, reengaging said backing feed drive shaft to said main drive shaft, reengaging said needle drive rocker shaft to said main drive shaft, and starting said tufting machine to continue with the tufting of cut pile material.

Claims

1. In a tufting machine for producing cut pile material by tufting yarn through a backing to form loops and cutting said loops, said tufting machine having an electric motor, a main drive shaft connected to said motor, a needle drive rocker shaft driven by said main drive shaft through a needle drive cam and connecting rod and a needle drive disengaging means, said needle drive rocker shaft in turn driving a tufting needle, a looper drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said looper drive shaft moving a looper, a knife drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said knife drive shaft moving a knife, backing feed drive shaft driven by said main dRive shaft, said backing feed drive shaft moving a backing feed roll, and the yarn feed drive shaft driven by said main drive shaft, said yarn feed drive shaft moving said yarn feed roll, the improvement comprises an auxiliary power means, said needle drive disengaging means for disengaging said needle drive rocker shaft from said main drive shaft and thereby stopping the movement of said tufting needle for use in combination with said auxiliary power means connected to said backing feed drive shaft to drive said backing feed roll and advance the backing through the tufting machine when said backing feed drive shaft is not driven by said main drive shaft, said needle drive disengaging means having two operative positions, one being the position wherein said needle drive disengaging means couples said main drive shaft to said needle drive rocker shaft which causes the needle to reciprocate and tuft yarn through said backing as the machine is operating and the other being the position wherein said needle drive disengaging means disengages said main drive shaft from said needle drive rocker shaft thereby stopping the needle reciprocation which stops the tufting of yarn through said backing even though all other parts of the machine are operating, a means for moving said needle drive disengaging means into either of said two operative positions at any one instance in time, and a clutch means through which the backing feed drive shaft is driven by the main drive shaft for disengaging the main drive shaft from the backing feed drive shaft and for reengaging the main drive shaft to the backing feed drive shaft, said auxiliary power means is actuated only after said clutch means is actuated to disengage said main drive shaft from said backing feed drive shaft, said auxiliary power means advances said backing without having any other parts of said machine operating and for a time sufficient to advance the untufted backing through said tufting machine a predetermined distance, by using said needle drive disengaging means in conjunction with said auxiliary power means a cut pile material may be produced having a portion thereof untufted.